Working Overseas and Travel Insurance – What You Need to Know
The cost of going overseas is enormous compared to the cost of your everyday life … when you factor in flights, paying for accommodation nightly instead of monthly, the cost of eating out many nights, renting a car rather than owning it, and incidentals like travel insurance and passports, the bill is staggering. Working overseas is a great way to not only meet people and learn about other cultures, but may be the only thing that makes it possible for you to live overseas. If you’re planning on backpacking around the world, we have some tips on working overseas, and how it may affect your travel insurance.
Backpacker travel insurance and working considerations
There are some travel insurance agencies that will not cover you for any adverse events that happen at work, including medical emergencies arising form your work, or loss or theft of your belongings while at work. However, the good travel insurance companies will cover you for most non-hazardous jobs, including:
- Bar work
- Admin work
- Public relations and marketing tasks
- Fruit picking, the backpacker’s standby
If you are thinking of doing a job with more inherent hazards, such a nursing or mining, check with your travel insurance company about whether you will be covered or will need to make alternate arrangements.
Documentation
Avoid the need to make a travel insurance claim for curtailing your trip because you forgot an important document necessary for you to work! You’ll need to bring notarized copies of the following for most jobs overseas:
- Birth certificate and marriage certificate, if applicable
- Citizenship papers
- Police checks, especially if you will be working with children, the elderly, or other social industries
- Educational qualifications
Work permits
In almost every country across the world, you need to seek permission from your host country’s government in order to work there. Overseas workers are regulated, so that they can’t be seen to be ‘taking jobs away’ from local people. There are some enormous fines and penalties payable for people found to be working in a country illegally.
The easiest way to find out what is required to get a work permit for your country of travel is to contact their consulate in your home country. Internet research can give you valuable advice, but obviously can’t be relied on for legal matters.
Driving overseas
Oftentimes people who are working overseas are also required to drive overseas. You’ll need to arrange an international driving permit before you go, and carry it with you along with your Australian driver’s license. You can get your International Driving Permit from the same place as your regular license. Even in countries where bona fide tourists can drive hire cars without a local license, if you are working in the country you’ll usually need an IDP.
